Post-Error Slowing and Types of Errors in Children versus Adults

The ability to detect errors and avoid their recurrence is crucial for learning and higher achievement. Individuals tend to slow down after committing an error to improve performance. This adjustment, where the reaction time increases resulting in higher accuracy, is known as post-error slowing (PES). This adaptive behavior is important for learning in dynamic environments, where conditions and rules may change. However, errors do not always affect behavior in the same manner. While some errors can be corrected in the following trial, others may require multiple attempts to correct, especially when PES-related processes cannot be efficiently engaged. In this study, we compare children and adults to explore differences in their post-error slowing behaviors, error types, and the neural processes underlying these mechanisms. Our findings aim to contribute to a better understanding of the developmental trajectory of behavioral adjustment cognitive control and its role in learning.